[celtbhoy]

im getting about 6 hens in a week or so, what space of a coop/run is enough for them, my space is limited.. thanks

[Aunt Sally]

Hi again celtbhoy. 

How's the chimney lark and the new wife ? 

[celtbhoy]

i good, work is mad...recession? what recession?!!! lol

[poultrygeist]

Hi celtbhoy.

I'd say coop about 1-2 sq ft per hen so 3ft x 3ft or more would be ok.

Run - IMHO bare minimum 12 sq metres but loads is better 

How much space do you have for them ?

ROb

[celtbhoy]

8x6... so i might just go with 4 hens..

also what do you think of  50 gal barrel slit in half and lying on its flat for them to roost/sleep in?

[too many girls]

barrel? it wouldn't be very fox proof would it?

[Aunt Sally]

You'll need a hen coop celtbhoy !

Can you get some pallet wood to make one from ?

Lots of members here can advise about design and size and also about perches and nest boxes.

[celtbhoy]

You'll need a hen coop celtbhoy !

Can you get some pallet wood to make one from ?

Lots of members here can advise about design and size and also about perches and nest boxes.

so barrel idea is out...i seen it somewhere and it seemed to work ok, ye a coop, i.e small dog box type thing??

[Jane-M]

When OH proudly produced our hen coop last year my neighbour commented that things have changed a lot since hens slept under a tarpaulin propped up on old planks in a corner of the farmyard! I sometimes wonder if foxes were only invented recently - perhaps they kept so many hens then that they didn't miss the odd dozen disappearing overnight?

Mark you the half barrel might be a nice thing to have anyway for sheltering during the day? Not that my hardy Northumbrian birds ever shelter...

[poultrygeist]

There's a couple of stickies here Celtbhoy about DIY coops and keeping the foxes out.

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=32947.0

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=25998.0

Rob

[andreadon]

if you could chop the barrel in two, but still use both halves.
have the pophole in the end, nest box in the opposite end: then lift the top half of the barrel out for cleaning.
no reason why you can't have a roosting bar across the middle - it would automatically be raised from the floor, wouldn't it!

I think it's a lovely idea.

And you could raise it on astnad to make it rat-proof.

[raeburg]

I've seen wine barrel coops for sale on ebay.

[richyrich7]

8 x 6 will keep 4 hens OK but I'd like a bigger space for their coop, my 4 have approx 6x3 coop size + their run.
Keep the run covered with a roof of some sort if you can, it will make their life happier and yours less smelly in wet weather 

[Aunt Sally]

And there's plenty of wet weather in Ireland celtbhoy 

[celtbhoy]

well i binned(no pun) the barrel and have erected a 6x4x2 coop made with old kitchen doors, and with a run of 9x4 ft..

should i wire the bottom of the run, to prevent and unwanted guests,? i have got some 1in galvanised weld mesh wire.

not finished pic>

http://i42.tinypic.com/dr89dl.jpg